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Don’t be so keen to be green

It’s been hammered into us – be green, save the planet! There’s no denying the importance of the message but well-meaning homeowners could find themselves scuppered by solar panels.

While solar panels may save you money on energy bills in the short-term, and they’re environmentally friendly, they might not actually add any value to your home.

Having solar panels might devalue your house

The problem with technology is that it ages quickly, and it can be expensive to upgrade. The same applies to built-in kitchen appliances, which are great to start with, but within five years are out of date.

Solar panels can also appear as unsightly and unattractive, and those more concerned with aesthetics than the environment don’t usually want them stuck on the side of their roof.

Beauty is in the eye of the buyer

Of course when it comes to decorating your house, you should design it to suit your personal taste.

But no matter how much you love the tiger-print wallpaper in your living room, it might not be to everyone’s taste – and could put off a potential buyer.

Neutrally decorated homes are will make your house more valuable

It might be worth re-decorating before you start to market your home. Magnolia might be a bit dull but it will help potential buyers see how their own belongings would fit and how they could make it their home.

Swimming pool could make your house a dive

Although great fun for a weekend or two in the summer, swimming pools in Britain aren’t usually considered an attractive house feature.

Brits could be banned from all-inclusive holidays

They’re expensive to maintain, use up a lot of space, and the great British weather means you can’t actually use them very often – often making them a lot more fuss than they’re worth.

Planning permission and building regulations

If you have had any works carried out while you’ve been living in the property, such as extensions or conversions, make sure you obtained appropriate planning permission and building regulations, and have access to these documents.

Always make sure you have your planning permission documents

Darkened rooms

If you have two identical properties, and one is bright and airy while the other is dark and dingy, nine times out of the ten, the brighter one will be worth more, because it’s more desirable.

Having rooms filled with light will help you sell your house for more

Foliage around windows, and large trees should be cut back before marketing your property to give the impression of a light and spacious home.

Japanese Knotweed

The infamous weed, Japanese Knotweed, is more common than you think – and it can damage the foundations of your home and significantly devalue it if it’s at risk of subsidence as a result.

If you think you can see any in your garden, call a professional to excavate is as soon as possible.

What the experts say

Katie Griffin, NAEA Propertymark president, said: “The house-moving process is undoubtedly stressful, so it’s important to know what adds value to your home and what might detract or put off potential buyers.

“Sometimes the improvements you have made might not appeal to buyers, so even though you’ve spent money on them, they might not necessarily add any value.”